Understand the 3 Categories of Water Damage

5/22/2022 (Permalink)

Sewage backup in a home in Lynchburg, TX.

Three Types Of Water You May Encounter After a Flood

All flood water is not created equal. Some types are more hazardous than others. If you experience flooding at your Lynchburg, TX, home, it's important to know what type of H2O you've got on your hands. In fact, if you're dealing with contaminated water, you don't want that on your hands, period. Here's a quick overview of the three types of water you may encounter after a flood.

Category 3: Black Water
This is the gnarliest water of the bunch. Its nickname has little to do with its hue, and everything to do with the number of pathogens and toxins it contains.
Spoiler alert: It's a lot, so this type of water should always be handled by an experienced water damage mitigation company. The most common sources of this Category 3 water are:

• Sewage backup
  
• Broken sewage lines
  
• Flash floods
  
• Overflowing rivers and streams
  
• Hurricane-related floods
  
  

Category 2: Significantly Contaminated Water
This middle category of water, sometimes known as greywater, is also contaminated, though not as severely as Category 3. Still, it's dirty water cleanup that you'd be wise to leave to professionals.
Common sources of Category 2 water are:

• Dishwashers
  
• Washing machines
  
• Aquariums
  
• Overflowing toilets (urine-only)
  
• Sump pump failure
  
• Seepage is related to a loss in hydrostatic pressure
  
  

Category 1: Sanitary Water
Water in this category contains negligible toxins, if any, which means it's safe for you to clean it up on your own if you're so inclined. The most common sources of this inside your Lynchburg, TX, home are toilet tanks and the water supply line. Rain and melting snow are also examples of Category 1 water.
After flooding in your home, the urge to dive into cleanup straightaway is understandable. In order to minimize damage, expedite the restoration process and tidy things up in the safest manner possible, it's important to recognize if you're dealing with contaminated water and make the smart call.